Coupling-centering device



Mar. 13, 1923. 7 1,448,269

E. -GEORGE, JR V Q COUPLING CENTERING DEVICE Filed Mar. 28, 1921 M70666 es 6 Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

ENOCH GEORGE, JR., OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

& TOELEY COMPANY, 03 IITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR'EGRATION OF PENN-v SYLVANIA.

are

TU THE IVTCCO'NYFAY COUPLING-CENTERING DEVICE.

Application filed March 28,1821. Serial No. 456,103.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ENOOH GEORGE, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (loupling-Centering Devices; andl do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to draft appliances for railway cars and particularly to a coupler centering device for yieldingly maintaining the car coupler in the center line of the car to which it is applied. The principal object of the invention is to provide a compact construction enabling the centering mechanism to be associated ith the stem of the coupler in a simple, strong and reliable manner.

Generally stated, this object is accomplished by reciprocatingly mounting upon the stem of the coupler a plurality of spring boxes which are adapted to effect the compression of interposed spring means when the coupler is displaced laterally in either direction from its centralized position, the boxes being maintained in assembled relation with respect to said stem and the extent of their separation being limited by means involving a member or members insertible through the side ot'the coupler stem and interposed between one or more of the spring boxes and the coupler stem and rigidly secured to the latter.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,- v

Figure 1 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, of a car coupler and associated centering device embodying my invention, the rear end of the coupler stem being broken away.

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section longitudinally of the coupler, the coupler head being omitted. v I

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the coupler stem taken through the spring box 50 openings thereof, the spring boxes being omitted.

Figure 4: is a detail perspective view of the overlapping members employed in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for retaining the spring boxes in operative relation to the coupler stein.

Figure.5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but omitting the coupler head and illus trating a modified form of construction in which a singlelaterally insertible member 1s employed for retaining the spring boxes in assembled relation. g

Figure 6 is a detailperspective view or the laterally insertible retaining means embodied in the construction shown in Figl5.

In the drawings 1 indicates the head of a car coupler and 2 is the coupler stern. Since my invention is especiallyadapted tor ap plication to a car coupler in which the coupler head and coupler stem are rigidly con nected, l have illustrated in the drawings a form of coupler in which the head and stem are an integral casting. The stem 2 is preferably of rectangular cross section, having parallel horizontal sides 3, 3 andparallel vertical sides 4, 4. 1

The side walls 4, 4; ot the coupler stem are provided a short distance rearwardly of the coupler head with oppositely disposed open ings 5 in which spring boxes Gare respectively mounted. spring boxes are adapted to engage in a well known manner a stationary part of the car, such as the center sills or parts of the coupler carry iron (not shown) to the end that when the coupler swings laterally from its normal position the spring boxes are caused to approach each other. Interposed between the spring boxes 6 and yieldingly resisting their movement toward each other are suitable spring means which preferably consist of a pair of coiled springs 7 ,7, arranged in parallel or so -called twin relation and proj'erting through the sides of the coupler stein so as to bear against the inner faces of the end walls of the spring boxes. Each of the spring boxes may be provided on' its interior with a centrally disposed vertically extending web 8 which separates the springs 7 and thereby prevents them from fouling each other and thus becoming broken or danr aged.

Each of the spring boxes is provided adjacent its inner end with vertically extending flanges or shoulders 9 which by engaging with corresponding shoulders formed upon or carried by the coupler stem 2 limit the outward movement or separation of the spring boxes. In both forms of my invention illustrated in the drawings the coupler stem 'is integrally provided with shoulders 10 which are adapted to engage the corresponding lugs 9 located on the same side of the spring boxes, the vertical side walls a of the coupler stem being connected adjacent said lugs or shoulders 10 by a vertically extending tie web 11 which is adapted to serve as a guide for said spring boxes during their reciprocating movements.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the coupler stem is formed with a tie web 12 which is located on the opposite side of the spring boxes from the tie web 11. This vertically extending tie member 12 connects the'top and bottom walls 3 of the stem and is spaced from the side walls a thereof. It cooperates with a pair of counterpart overlapping retaining members 13 which are interposed between said tie and a plurality of supporting shoulders 1a with which the coupler stem is provided at the forward ends of the openings 5 therein. The overlapping members 13 are preferably of such length that each is supported at both ends by the shoulders 14, said overlapping members thus being enabled efficiently to resist strains tending to force them away from the spring boxes 6 toward the coupler head. Each of the retaining members 13 may be formed with a vertically extending shoulder 15 adapted to engage the tie 12 of the coupler stem and be provided with a vertically extending rib 16 which proj ects between the adjacent spring box 6 and the inner end 17 of the other overlapping member and tends to brace the inner end of the latter. By thus constructing the overlapping members 13 and by so combining them with the coupler stem their stability in assembled position is increased beyond that imparted to them by the spaced rivets 18 by which they are secured to the coupler stem and to each other. Each of the retaining members 13 is formed with a shoulder 19 which is adapted to overlap the adjacent shoulder 9 of the neighboring spring box to limit the separation of said boxes; and each of said members 13 is preferably also formed with a vertical face 20 adapted to stand in alinement with the rear face of the tie 12 so as .to constitute in conjunction therewith a guide for the spring boxes 6.

in assembling the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the spring boxes con taining the springs 7 are first inserted through the openings 5 in the sides of the coupler shank and are then pushed rearwardly so as to bring the shoulders 9 upon the rear sides of the boxes into engagement with the corresponding shoulders 10 formed on the coupler stem. The overlapping retainers 13 are then slid into position through the openings 5 from opposite sides of the coupler stem and are riveted in place.

The modified form of construction illus trated in Figs. 5 and 6 employs spring boxes 6 having partition webs 8 and basal flanges or shoulders 9 corresponding to the construction heretofore described. A plurality of springs 7, preferably arranged in twin relation, is interposed between the spring boxes 6. The coupler stem 21 has oppositely disposed openings 22 and 23, respectively, in its side walls through which the spring boxes project, the opening 23 being larger than the opening 22 so as to permit the insertion of the retainer 2 1 between a shoulder 25 on the coupler stem and one of the spring boxes 6.

The laterally insertible retainer 2a is formed with a lug or shoulder 26 adapted to engage the adjacent shoulder 9 of the neighboring spring box, while the rear face 27 of said laterally insertible member is preferably vertical and is adapted when the part8 are in assembled relation to form a guide for the spring boxes 6. The member 2 1 is rigidly secured to the coupler stem by means of spaced rivets 28. To further increase the stability of the laterally insertible member 24, the coupler stem 21 is preferably provided with a rib or projection 29 which extends between the neighboring spring box 6 and the inner end of the member 24, the lat ter being notched or shouldered, as at 30, to receive said projection.

The shoulders or flanges 9 on the rear the springs 7 are first positioned in the coupler shank, after which the retainer 24 is inserted and rigidly secured to the coupler stem 21 by means of the rivets 28.

hen the coupler swings laterally in either direction from its central position one or the other of the spring boxes 6 depending upon the direction in which the coupler swings, moves with said coupler, while the companion spring box, by hearing at its outer end against a stationary part of the car, is held stationary. The springboxes 6 are thus caused to approach each other, thereby compressing the springs 7 As soon as the force causing the lateral displacement of the coupler. from its normal position ceases to act, the compressed springs 7 expand, thereby enforcing a separation of the spring boxes and restoring the coupler to its position in the center line of the car.

, I claim i 1. Ina device of the character-indicated, the combination with a coupler having a head and a stem rigidly connected to said said boxes toward each other, and means,

for limiting the extent of separation of said boxes, sald last named means including an integral part of said stem, overlapping members extending into said stem from op;- poslte sides thereof and adapted to engage said boxes on one side, and means for rigidly securing said overlapping members to said stem.

2.- In a device of the character indicated,

the combination with a coupler having a head and a stem, of a plurality- 0f springboxes reciprocatingly mounted on said stem rearwardly of said head and normally projecting outwardlybeyond the sides of the latter to'permittheir outer ends to engage a stationarypart of the car, spring means interposed between said spring-boxes and adaptedto .be compressed upon a relative movement of said boxes toward each other, means insertible through the side of said stem to the rear of ,saidhead for retaining said boxes in assembled relation to said stem, and means for rigidly securing SELlCl" I head and a stem rigidly connected to said last named means to said stem.

3. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler having a head and a stem, of a plurality of spring boxes reciprocatingly mounted on said stem and normally projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the latter, spring means interposed between said springboxes and adapt ed to be compressed upon a relative movement of said boxes toward each other, and

means for maintaining said spring-boxes'in operative relation to said stem, said last named means including an integral part of said stem adapted to engage said boxes upon one side, means insertible through the side of a plurality of shoulderedspring-boxes.

reciprocatingly mounted on said stem and normally projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the latter rearwardly of said head, spring means interposed between said spring-boxes and adapted to be compressedupon a relative movement of said boxes toward each other, said stem having formed integrally" thereon a plurality of shoulders respectively adapted to; engagesome' of the shoulders of said spring boxegymeans insertible through the side of said coupler stem to the rear of said head for engaging the remainingshoulders of said 'spring-i boxes, and means forretainingsaid insertible means inassembled relation to said stem, said shoulders'on said stem and said insertible ingto limit the separa tion of said spring-boxes.

5. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler having a head and a" stem "rigidly connected to said head; of a plurality of spring-boxesrecig rocatinglymounted on said st'em and each provided with oppositely disposed; shoul-- ders, spring means interposed between said spring-boxes and adapted to be compressed upon a relative. movement of'said boxes toward each other, and means for maintaining said boxes in operativefrelationto said stem, said last named means including a plurality of! shoulders formed integral with said stem and adapted to engage the. respective spring boxes on one side thereof and a plurality of members which" overlapeach other both vertically and horizontally" and which are respectively insertible through opposite sides of said coupler stem and en? gage the respective spring boxes on the sides thereof opposite said shoulders.

6. In a device of the character indicated,-

the combination with a coupler having a head, said stem havingroppositely disposed openings in its side walls, of a plurality of spring-boxes reciprocatingly mounted on spring means interposed between said spring-boxes and adapted to be compressed upon a relative movement of said boxes to ward each other, and means for maintaining said boxes-inoperative relation to said stem, said lastnamed 'means including a pair of overlapping members each of wh ch is provided with a vertically extending rib which is adapted to extend between anad jacent spring-box and the neighboring end of the other of said overlapping members.

7. In a device ofthe character indicated,

said stem and respectively adapted to pro- 7 jectthrough said openings and each pro added with oppositely disposed shoulders,

movement oi said boxes toward each other,

and means for maintaining said springboxes in operative relat1on, sa1d last named means including a plurality of overlapping members, and said coupler stern being integrally provided intermediate of its side walls with vertically extending means having shouldered engagement with each of said overlapping members;

S. In a device of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler having a head and stem, of a plurality of springboxes reciprocatingly mounted on said stem, spring means interposed between said spring-boxes and adapted to becompressed upon a relative movement of said boxes toward each other, and means for maintaining said spring-boxes in operative relation, said last named means includin a plurality of overlapping members each or' which engages said coupler stem and one of said springboxes, said stein having oppositely disposed openings in its side walls through which said boxes normally project and having a vertically extending tie integral with the upper and lower walls of said stem and also having a tie connecting said'side walls adjacent said o-penings therein and adapted to form a guide "for one side of said boxes, said overlapping members and said vertically extending tie having faces in alinement adapted to form a guide for said springboXes.

9. in a device of the character indicated, the combination with a coupler having a head and a stem," olf a plurality of flanged spring-boxes reciprocatingly mounted on said stem, spring means interposed between bers to said stem and to each other.

10. In a device of the "character indicated, the combination with a coupler having a head and a stem, of a plurality of springboXes reciprocatingly mounted on "said stem, spring means interposed between said spring-boxes and adapted to be compressed upon a relative movement of said boxes toward each other, and means for maintaining said spring-boxes in operative relation, said last named means including a plural-, ity of overlapping members each of which is adapted to engage one of said spring-boxes to limit the separation of said boxes, and said coupler stein being provided with a plurality of shoulders between which and said spring-boxes the said overlapping members are interposed and by which both overlapping members are supported at both ends against movement toward said head.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

nNooi-I GEORGE, JR. 

